Music lovers can dance, walk and ride to the beat in a new feature for Durham Brass Festival.
The region’s biggest brass celebration returns to County Durham from Sunday 12 to Sunday 19 July, bringing seven days of exciting performances, ticketed events, new commissions, and free concerts.
As the Durham County Council-run festival celebrates its 20th anniversary, audiences will be encouraged to move, keep active and enjoy the sounds of brass in a series of events new for 2026.
Making up part of the council’s wider We Move Together campaign, some of the festival’s events will offer extra activities for audiences to get involved in, combining music, movement and community spirit.
Cllr Karen Allison, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for leisure, tourism, regeneration and high street, said: “As part of our ambition to support the health and wellbeing of our communities, our We Move Together campaign encourages residents to become more physically active in a way that suits them. This can be a gentle stroll or something more dynamic.”
“Durham Brass Festival is known for its energetic, crowd-engaging performances. So, we thought what better way to get people moving than to the sounds of some of the festival’s most iconic bands.”
The festival’s We Move Together activities begin on Tuesday 14 July with a Big Walk at Chester-le-Street’s Riverside Park.
With a 90-minute circular or a gentler 60-minute route to choose from, residents can end the walk on a high with a lively street band ready to welcome them to the finish point.
Festivalgoers can then dance along to big 90s hits at Spennymoor’s Brass Bash on Thursday 16 July, combining live brass music with an energetic party atmosphere.
And, on Friday 17 July, Newton Aycliffe Big Brass Bash will host FireRide Cycle’s exciting pop-up cycling display. This free, interactive experience is designed to inspire people of all ages and abilities to get moving.
For more information about the We Move Together events, and to book onto the Big Walk, visit www.thriveleisure.co.uk/index.php/activities/we-move-together
Durham Brass Festival continues throughout 12 to 19 July with a host of concerts and performances at venues across the county.
To see Durham Brass Festival’s full line up of events, and to book tickets, visit www.durham.gov.uk
